Canadian Copyright Board may approve a 20% levy on electronic media

[Garion]

From
Slashdot

Capt. Canuck writes "According to this Toronto Star story, the Canadian Copyright Board may approve a 20% levy on electronic media tomorrow, including MP3 players and hard drives. With the Canadian Dollar rising and this on the horizon, maybe now is the right time to get that iPod.

Article at the Toronto Star

Man, that's brutal. Looks like some of the proposed taxes are above 20%, however. Reading the text, they are talking about a $.49 levy PER BLANK CD.

Glad I don't live in Canada!

- G

 

[UNCjigga]

That's ridiculous even by Canadian socialist standards. It'll never pass (but then again, I said that about GST...didn't I?)

 

[StageLeft]

This fallacy pops up every once in a while. I remember the same thing a while back. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

And while we're at it, no the post office won't charge per email ever.

 

This fallacy pops up every once in a while. I remember the same thing a while back. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

Really? Media levy's exist in canada currently.
Why do you think they won't tack on more?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: SammySon

This fallacy pops up every once in a while. I remember the same thing a while back. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

Really? Media levy's exist in canada currently.
Why do you think they won't tack on more?

Because that'll just make us smuggle the stuff in from the USA even more than we do already?

- M4H

 

Because that'll just make us smuggle the stuff in from the USA even more than we do already?

- M4H

Nothing wrong with that.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: SammySon

This fallacy pops up every once in a while. I remember the same thing a while back. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

Really? Media levy's exist in canada currently.
Why do you think they won't tack on more?

Because that'll just make us smuggle the stuff in from the USA even more than we do already?

- M4H

Yes. I'd never buy computer stuff in that country. When I move up there, I'll set up a delivery point for stuff on the US side and smuggle across. From what I gather, there are PLENTY of completely unattended border crossings that may be utilized.

 

[StageLeft]

Because cds don't cost anything near $.50 and they never will, that's why Sure they may levy something extra but $.49 cds is not likely in my lifetime!

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: SammySon

Because that'll just make us smuggle the stuff in from the USA even more than we do already?

- M4H

Nothing wrong with that.

Except that the CDN$ is likely going to start its long downward march soon.

And naturally, we'll probably get some new company that just uses cheaper material, yielding crappier CDRs.

- M4H

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: SammySon

This fallacy pops up every once in a while. I remember the same thing a while back. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

Really? Media levy's exist in canada currently.
Why do you think they won't tack on more?

Because that'll just make us smuggle the stuff in from the USA even more than we do already?

- M4H

Yes. I'd never buy computer stuff in that country. When I move up there, I'll set up a delivery point for stuff on the US side and smuggle across. From what I gather, there are PLENTY of completely unattended border crossings that may be utilized.

5,514 miles of border, 2,376 of that being water.

got Boat?

- M4H

 

[StageLeft]

Except that the CDN$ is likely going to start its long downward march soon.

God I hope so. Lately paying down my student loans has cost a good bit more than it did two years back. I'd like to see it back around the .65 range.

 

[Wuffsunie]

That better not happen! We're already getting raped on the base price of stuff compared to ppl down south, I don't need 20% more BS with my computer related stuff.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: SammySon

This fallacy pops up every once in a while. I remember the same thing a while back. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

Really? Media levy's exist in canada currently.
Why do you think they won't tack on more?

Because that'll just make us smuggle the stuff in from the USA even more than we do already?

- M4H

Yes. I'd never buy computer stuff in that country. When I move up there, I'll set up a delivery point for stuff on the US side and smuggle across. From what I gather, there are PLENTY of completely unattended border crossings that may be utilized.

5,514 miles of border, 2,376 of that being water.

got Boat?

- M4H

Screw boat - got van and hick-ass backroad?

 

[DarkMajiq]

There already are levies in place:

http://www.cb-cda.gc.ca/news/c20032004fs-e.html

"What are the new private copying levy rates set by the Board?

For the period from January 1st, 2003 to December 31st, 2004, the Board certified the following levy rates:

- Audio cassettes (of 40 minutes or more in length): 29¢ each
- CD-R and CD-RW: 21¢ each
- CD-R Audio, CD-RW Audio and MiniDisc: 77¢ each
- For non-removable memory permanently embedded in a digital audio recorder: $2 for each recorder that can record no more than 1 Gb of data, $15 for each recorder that can record more than 1 Gb and no more than 10 Gbs of data, and $25 for each recorder that can record more than 10 Gbs of data."

It's absolute crap, especially since so far all of the money collected has just gone into a pot and not been paid out; I believe it's something to do with the fact that the government doesn't want to distribute it when it may potentially face legal challenges as to the validity of the levy.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: SammySon

This fallacy pops up every once in a while. I remember the same thing a while back. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

Really? Media levy's exist in canada currently.
Why do you think they won't tack on more?

Because that'll just make us smuggle the stuff in from the USA even more than we do already?

- M4H

Yes. I'd never buy computer stuff in that country. When I move up there, I'll set up a delivery point for stuff on the US side and smuggle across. From what I gather, there are PLENTY of completely unattended border crossings that may be utilized.

5,514 miles of border, 2,376 of that being water.

got Boat?

- M4H

Screw boat - got van and hick-ass backroad?

Why not SIMPLIFY and have someone (on AT?) mail it to you?

 

[ComputerMonkey]

Copyright Board taxes MP3 players, holds line on blank CDs

The fees levied on digital music devices include:

* Up to 1 gigabyte of memory: $2
* More than 1 gigabyte up to 10 gigabytes: $15
* More than 10 gigabytes: $25

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: ComputerMonkey
Copyright Board taxes MP3 players, holds line on blank CDs

The fees levied on digital music devices include:

* Up to 1 gigabyte of memory: $2
* More than 1 gigabyte up to 10 gigabytes: $15
* More than 10 gigabytes: $25

What a bunch of d!ckwads, at least they were smart enough not to increase levies on the media. If I ever need to buy an Ipod/mp3 player I'm getting it from the US.

 

[ComputerMonkey]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: ComputerMonkey
Copyright Board taxes MP3 players, holds line on blank CDs

The fees levied on digital music devices include:

* Up to 1 gigabyte of memory: $2
* More than 1 gigabyte up to 10 gigabytes: $15
* More than 10 gigabytes: $25

What a bunch of d!ckwads, at least they were smart enough not to increase levies on the media. If I ever need to buy an Ipod/mp3 player I'm getting it from the US.

Yeah, I'm so glad that they didn't put the levy on flash media cards or HD's. The Ipods are already totally overpriced in Canada. 40GB costs $499US and $729CDN. Not exactly an even conversion.

 

[Spencer278]

Haha so the canadian have to come to the USA to buy there harddrives the americians have to go to canadia to buy drugs.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

So if I buy an mp3 player from a Canadian store, my mp3s will be legal?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Spencer278
Haha so the canadian have to come to the USA to buy there harddrives the americians have to go to canadia to buy drugs.

Trade ya.

- M4H

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: Spencer278
Haha so the canadian have to come to the USA to buy there harddrives the americians have to go to canadia to buy drugs.

Trade ya.

- M4H

You'll trade him parsley and basil for hard drives?

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: Spencer278
Haha so the canadian have to come to the USA to buy there harddrives the americians have to go to canadia to buy drugs.

Time to build a store straddling the border... sell computer stuff on the American side, drugs on the other. Oh, and probably guns, too... the poor deprived Canucks.

 

[bernse]

Difference is in Canada you will not get prosecuted for downloading music and/or burning CDs.

That's the whole purpose of the "levy" and the government is wittingly/unwittingly legalizing music swapping.

EDIT - Not legalizing, but making it almost impossible to prosecute

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: Spencer278
Haha so the canadian have to come to the USA to buy there harddrives the americians have to go to canadia to buy drugs.

Time to build a store straddling the border... sell computer stuff on the American side, drugs on the other. Oh, and probably guns, too... the poor deprived Canucks.

Deprived of US murder rates?

Let the games begin!